Hi Iain
Im from NZ so ill try answer some of your Qs. NZ is an awesome place to boat.
Finding people to boat with will be easy as, kiwis are super friendly and there will be heaps of overseas people around over summer for kayaking.
Bringing or bying a boat, duno which is best, plenty of boats available here, maybe depends if you can get yours over here for cheap or free???? NOT BA
Bring all your other gear, but there are a few good shops if you need stuff.
Buying a van or car is the best idea as NZ has little Publc transport, and youll need a way of carrying your boat. they are easy to buy and sell here too.
Now where to be based.... i would fly into auckland, buy a car, buy the guide book drive down to taupo/rotarua do some paddling for a bit then head to the south island. once your in the south island SI it depends how hard you want to boat. You could also fly in to chch and just do the SI (would be cheaper, but still buy a car/van)
Murchison has heaps of good boating up to class 3.5 with a couple of class 4 options with water.
The west coast (Hokitika) has heaps of boating, mostly in the class 3+ to 5 range
there are a few good runs on the east coast as well as queenstown.
The last three summers i have done month long paddling missions around the SI and still havent done half the runs, there is heaps to do!
\"camping is free and available most places\"
Ill be around boating in murch and west coast a bit this summer send me an email when you get in, im based in christchurch
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CHeers
Marlow